Massa was probably slow due to the imminent, slowest on the calendar, hairpin. LH went for the move despite not being anywhere near far enough alongside. He did not go onto the kerb to take avoiding action. He bounced off Massa's car, failed to push him wide, and then chose to mount the kerb and attempt a second go outside of the track limits.

Retaliating and putting him in the wall two corners later probably didn't help.

Once again, by up the inside, he means less than half a car length, and certainly no where near enough that he had the corner or was in a safe position to jostle for it.

I'm still third in the championship, I have taken more advantage over Vettel, and another 12 points over my teammate.

Now that you have the facts, twist at will.

We should include the actual journo questions with the quotes. In this case IIRC the journalist asked what the positive things were that Fer could take away from this weekend (implied: among the many negative things). In this context the quote is entirely reasonable as written, and to properly criticize it, one would need to hear the tone he used and the face he made when saying that.

Alonso: This was the last race with you guys. It was the final race, and we have won both championships again. Thank your for all these years, it has been a pleasure for me to work with you with this success, and I wish you the best for the future.

Alonso: This was the last race with you guys. It was the final race, and we have won both championships again. Thank your for all these years, it has been a pleasure for me to work with you with this success, and I wish you the best for the future.

1993During his first GP at Suzuka, Irvine twice unlapped himself after being lapped by Ayrton Senna. After which he made headlines by being punched by Senna in the Jordan motorhome. During the argument Senna accused Irvine of almost hitting him, to which Irvine responded: "A miss is as good as a mile." And after the legendary punch, he yelled "Insurance claim there!"

1994Still with Jordan, Irvine was asked to take part in a photo shoot, but at the time was not interested. He told team boss Eddie Jordan: "Do I have to? Send out some f**ker in my helmet, they'll never know the difference"

1995Irvine told the Sunday Business Post about an encounter he had while trying to enter a nightclub in Dublin.Bouncer: "Sorry sir, members only"Irvine: "But I'm Eddie Irvine"Bouncer: "P*ss off! Eddie Irvine is a famous racing driver. Stop wasting my time."

Irvine had a rather hot experience in Belgium when his car caught alight. He said: "I saw the flames and I thought 'Sh*t! This thing's on fire!'"

1996In his first year with Ferrari, Eddie was asked why Schumacher's helmet had an odd shape replied: "Because he's German, he's got an odd shaped head."

1997ITV's Louise Goodman interviewed Irvine and called him Edmund. Irvine was not amused. Louise said that his mother called him that: "Well you are not my mum."

1998Irvine was asked to comment on Schumacher's Jerez crash and said: "Honestly, I think we all would have done the same. But I'd like to think I'd have made a better job of it!"

Irv was asked on Irish TV if he ever stopped by Damon Hill's Dublin house for a quick visit: "Well, to be honest, you'd have to be a pretty sad bastard to need a racing driver for a mate. I have normal friends and have the crack with them. Well, to be honest, most of the guys in Formula 1 just don't get it."

Irvine crashed into the side of Giancarlo Fisichella's Benetton: "I don't want to blame anyone, but I will say it wasn't my fault. I couldn't put the car into helicopter mode and suddenly disappear. He came out of the last corner very well and came alongside me. We braked at the same time and he turned in on me."

Having won the race in Argentina after predicting the win would go to Schumacher Irvine said in a post-race interview: "I tell you what, my bookie is not going to be too pleased. I put money on Michael to win and I put money on myself each-way as well. He'll be crying a bit today."

1999Irvine was handed the No1 spot at Ferrari when Schumacher broke his leg at the British race: "Ferrari didn't hire me to win the world championship, but this is what they've asked for now and I'm going to try my best to deliver. To be Ferrari's number one driver is everybody's dream".

Irvine left Ferrari at the end of the 1999 season to join Jaguar. He said: "The timing is really fantastic. I was really desperate to get out of Ferrari this season, and I am a lucky, lucky guy. I could not have coped with another year because Michael Schumacher is so damn good. He is a back-breaker. He saps you, and the effort of working and competing with him drains you."

Irvine aims to retain his playboy image. "It's got me this far the way I do it. If you change it and get serious you are going to get depressed and you won't be as happy with your life. I have such a ball away from races that when I get to races I am actually looking forward to getting on with it. I'll be in the boat having a blast, but then on Thursday that'll stop. I'll get to the circuit relaxed and refreshed and that has got to put you in a better frame of mind."

After a poor performance at the European Grand Prix Irvine stated: "Life is strange, but F1 is simply crazy."

Irvine was asked why he's so popular in Australia: "Because it's full of Irish convicts"

Asked which driver he liked the most apart of Michael Schumacher: "Hmmm...ammm...well we're all a bunch of tossers really!"

Giving his opinion on Ralf Schumacher: "Ralf Schumacher had something missing from his head."

And Jacques Villeneuve: "Villeneuve only got into F1 'cos of his father."

Asked how he felt about the national anthem being played after he won a race Irvine said: "I couldn't give a sh*t which song is played or which flag is flown. I race for myself and for no-one else."

Irvine was interviewed prior to the Italian GP by Simona Ventura who asked: "Eddie, if you have Mika H?kkinen and Michael Schumacher on a tower, whom would you throw out?"Irvine answered: "Mika H?kkinen, because Michael Schumacher is already out of this championship."

2000Irvine denied that his ambition was to be Britain's No1 driver: "It's not significant at all. I might just as well still be doing British F3. It carries no weight at all, does it? I might sell a few more hats, but that's not what I am in F1 to do."

From Life In The Fast Lane, Irvine said: "But fear is an irrational business. The things that really scare the shit out of me are earwigs, which used to infest our home in Ireland. I'd rather do 180mph around Monza than even see an earwig, let alone have one crawling around on me. I don't like snakes, either, but they are about the only two things that scare me, except for weddings, of course, and commitment, but that's another story."

Irvine finally reveals his role at Jaguar in 2000: "My job this year was to complain a lot about what was wrong. Hopefully, I won't have the need to do so much complaining."

A German newspaper reported that Madonna had the hots for Irvine to which he responds: "She obviously has impeccable taste in men"

2001Irv proclaims his hopes for his second season with Jaguar: "It will be difficult to do that badly again. If we do that badly again we deserve a good kicking."

Irv voices his opinion on journalists: "To be honest, journalists have pages to fill and some people fill them better than others. Sometimes, it's very easy to make a headline by writing things that aren't true and some people go down that route and some people go down the route of trying to be honest, hardworking and investigate journalists. It doesn't affect me, it's great, I love being in the newspapers, it makes me more famous."

Irvine proclaims he is No2 in F1: "You know there is no-one in the pit lane that is better than me, except for Michael. I have no doubts about that."

2002Irvine claimed third place in Italy. It turned out to be his final F1 podium. Afterwards he said: "It's comforting to know that old farts like myself can still blow the pants off Formula One's young guns."

Irvine responds to a rather upset David Coulthard: "I didn't call him a fag, I actually said he should stop being a fag and worrying about what I say."

2003Irvine announced that the 2002 Japanese Grand Prix was his final F1 race. "It's a sad day. I have decided not to drive in Formula One this year - or at least at the moment. In July last year I made up my mind to drive for Jordan Grand Prix. I had very strong feelings about returning to the team which started my F1 career. Unfortunately, due to the economic downturn, Jordan are forced to look for a driver who brings extra funds to the team whilst I can only bring speed, reliability and greater experience. It's a shame because I really would have enjoyed the rule changes, especially single-lap qualifying."

1993During his first GP at Suzuka, Irvine twice unlapped himself after being lapped by Ayrton Senna. After which he made headlines by being punched by Senna in the Jordan motorhome. During the argument Senna accused Irvine of almost hitting him, to which Irvine responded: "A miss is as good as a mile." And after the legendary punch, he yelled "Insurance claim there!"

1994Still with Jordan, Irvine was asked to take part in a photo shoot, but at the time was not interested. He told team boss Eddie Jordan: "Do I have to? Send out some f**ker in my helmet, they'll never know the difference"

1995Irvine told the Sunday Business Post about an encounter he had while trying to enter a nightclub in Dublin.Bouncer: "Sorry sir, members only"Irvine: "But I'm Eddie Irvine"Bouncer: "P*ss off! Eddie Irvine is a famous racing driver. Stop wasting my time."

Irvine crashed into the side of Giancarlo Fisichella's Benetton: "I don't want to blame anyone, but I will say it wasn't my fault. I couldn't put the car into helicopter mode and suddenly disappear. He came out of the last corner very well and came alongside me. We braked at the same time and he turned in on me."

1999

Irvine was asked why he's so popular in Australia: "Because it's full of Irish convicts"

Asked which driver he liked the most apart of Michael Schumacher: "Hmmm...ammm...well we're all a bunch of tossers really!"

Irvine was interviewed prior to the Italian GP by Simona Ventura who asked: "Eddie, if you have Mika H?kkinen and Michael Schumacher on a tower, whom would you throw out?"Irvine answered: "Mika H?kkinen, because Michael Schumacher is already out of this championship."

2002Irvine responds to a rather upset David Coulthard: "I didn't call him a fag, I actually said he should stop being a fag and worrying about what I say."

Alonso: This was the last race with you guys. It was the final race, and we have won both championships again. Thank your for all these years, it has been a pleasure for me to work with you with this success, and I wish you the best for the future.

Pat Symonds: We wish you the best too Fernando.

Alonso: As long as the car is not red, I wish you the best

Fernando in 2005:

"There are two teams cheating here. The first one is BAR, as Imola showed, and the other one is Ferrari, who are testing more than what it is allowed in the agreement."

And: "With Michael on the track it is much better to win a title."

BTW Ron Dennis in 2005 - about Fernando:

"He's a very talented driver. I think he has surprised us by his calmness, considering he is from Spain."

Also: "I think there is a category of driver that comes from South America, Italy or Spain that doesn't have the discipline required to win the World Championship."

1993During his first GP at Suzuka, Irvine twice unlapped himself after being lapped by Ayrton Senna. After which he made headlines by being punched by Senna in the Jordan motorhome. During the argument Senna accused Irvine of almost hitting him, to which Irvine responded: "A miss is as good as a mile." And after the legendary punch, he yelled "Insurance claim there!"

1994Still with Jordan, Irvine was asked to take part in a photo shoot, but at the time was not interested. He told team boss Eddie Jordan: "Do I have to? Send out some f**ker in my helmet, they'll never know the difference"

1995Irvine told the Sunday Business Post about an encounter he had while trying to enter a nightclub in Dublin.Bouncer: "Sorry sir, members only"Irvine: "But I'm Eddie Irvine"Bouncer: "P*ss off! Eddie Irvine is a famous racing driver. Stop wasting my time."

Irvine had a rather hot experience in Belgium when his car caught alight. He said: "I saw the flames and I thought 'Sh*t! This thing's on fire!'"

1996In his first year with Ferrari, Eddie was asked why Schumacher's helmet had an odd shape replied: "Because he's German, he's got an odd shaped head."

1997ITV's Louise Goodman interviewed Irvine and called him Edmund. Irvine was not amused. Louise said that his mother called him that: "Well you are not my mum."

1998Irvine was asked to comment on Schumacher's Jerez crash and said: "Honestly, I think we all would have done the same. But I'd like to think I'd have made a better job of it!"

Irv was asked on Irish TV if he ever stopped by Damon Hill's Dublin house for a quick visit: "Well, to be honest, you'd have to be a pretty sad bastard to need a racing driver for a mate. I have normal friends and have the crack with them. Well, to be honest, most of the guys in Formula 1 just don't get it."

Irvine crashed into the side of Giancarlo Fisichella's Benetton: "I don't want to blame anyone, but I will say it wasn't my fault. I couldn't put the car into helicopter mode and suddenly disappear. He came out of the last corner very well and came alongside me. We braked at the same time and he turned in on me."

Having won the race in Argentina after predicting the win would go to Schumacher Irvine said in a post-race interview: "I tell you what, my bookie is not going to be too pleased. I put money on Michael to win and I put money on myself each-way as well. He'll be crying a bit today."

1999Irvine was handed the No1 spot at Ferrari when Schumacher broke his leg at the British race: "Ferrari didn't hire me to win the world championship, but this is what they've asked for now and I'm going to try my best to deliver. To be Ferrari's number one driver is everybody's dream".

Irvine left Ferrari at the end of the 1999 season to join Jaguar. He said: "The timing is really fantastic. I was really desperate to get out of Ferrari this season, and I am a lucky, lucky guy. I could not have coped with another year because Michael Schumacher is so damn good. He is a back-breaker. He saps you, and the effort of working and competing with him drains you."

Irvine aims to retain his playboy image. "It's got me this far the way I do it. If you change it and get serious you are going to get depressed and you won't be as happy with your life. I have such a ball away from races that when I get to races I am actually looking forward to getting on with it. I'll be in the boat having a blast, but then on Thursday that'll stop. I'll get to the circuit relaxed and refreshed and that has got to put you in a better frame of mind."

After a poor performance at the European Grand Prix Irvine stated: "Life is strange, but F1 is simply crazy."

Irvine was asked why he's so popular in Australia: "Because it's full of Irish convicts"

Asked which driver he liked the most apart of Michael Schumacher: "Hmmm...ammm...well we're all a bunch of tossers really!"

Giving his opinion on Ralf Schumacher: "Ralf Schumacher had something missing from his head."

And Jacques Villeneuve: "Villeneuve only got into F1 'cos of his father."

Asked how he felt about the national anthem being played after he won a race Irvine said: "I couldn't give a sh*t which song is played or which flag is flown. I race for myself and for no-one else."

Irvine was interviewed prior to the Italian GP by Simona Ventura who asked: "Eddie, if you have Mika H?kkinen and Michael Schumacher on a tower, whom would you throw out?"Irvine answered: "Mika H?kkinen, because Michael Schumacher is already out of this championship."

2000Irvine denied that his ambition was to be Britain's No1 driver: "It's not significant at all. I might just as well still be doing British F3. It carries no weight at all, does it? I might sell a few more hats, but that's not what I am in F1 to do."

From Life In The Fast Lane, Irvine said: "But fear is an irrational business. The things that really scare the shit out of me are earwigs, which used to infest our home in Ireland. I'd rather do 180mph around Monza than even see an earwig, let alone have one crawling around on me. I don't like snakes, either, but they are about the only two things that scare me, except for weddings, of course, and commitment, but that's another story."

Irvine finally reveals his role at Jaguar in 2000: "My job this year was to complain a lot about what was wrong. Hopefully, I won't have the need to do so much complaining."

A German newspaper reported that Madonna had the hots for Irvine to which he responds: "She obviously has impeccable taste in men"

2001Irv proclaims his hopes for his second season with Jaguar: "It will be difficult to do that badly again. If we do that badly again we deserve a good kicking."

Irv voices his opinion on journalists: "To be honest, journalists have pages to fill and some people fill them better than others. Sometimes, it's very easy to make a headline by writing things that aren't true and some people go down that route and some people go down the route of trying to be honest, hardworking and investigate journalists. It doesn't affect me, it's great, I love being in the newspapers, it makes me more famous."

Irvine proclaims he is No2 in F1: "You know there is no-one in the pit lane that is better than me, except for Michael. I have no doubts about that."

2002Irvine claimed third place in Italy. It turned out to be his final F1 podium. Afterwards he said: "It's comforting to know that old farts like myself can still blow the pants off Formula One's young guns."

Irvine responds to a rather upset David Coulthard: "I didn't call him a fag, I actually said he should stop being a fag and worrying about what I say."

2003Irvine announced that the 2002 Japanese Grand Prix was his final F1 race. "It's a sad day. I have decided not to drive in Formula One this year - or at least at the moment. In July last year I made up my mind to drive for Jordan Grand Prix. I had very strong feelings about returning to the team which started my F1 career. Unfortunately, due to the economic downturn, Jordan are forced to look for a driver who brings extra funds to the team whilst I can only bring speed, reliability and greater experience. It's a shame because I really would have enjoyed the rule changes, especially single-lap qualifying."

The point is: are these stupid quotes? For Eddy Irvine, these are rather smart quotes.

Ah I miss the days of Eddie, Mika and Coulthard with their various soundbites and larking about in press conferences.

And to think back then we said drivers were becoming dull!

Well, the transformation is complete... the man who said anything of consequence about the direction this sport is taking, "engines sound like sh!t." he was pulled up by FIA. However, some of the fans of other drivers were more pleased about the fact that he got into trouble. Such is life.

but in case of Alonso, it is a stupid nickname, as i can be mistaken for "Fair".

Well, it depends on the language. Alonso is from Spain and in spanish "Fer" is Fernando apocope, it isn't "fair". It is what it is.

I wasn´t going to say this but here I go. If you don´t like how it sounds in english must be because you know him personally?...maybe you can bring some of those "I heard Alonso said quotes". I prefer "quotes" stupid or not but "quotes", nothing more, nothing less.

Best one so far to me was Montoya on his first stint in Formula Indy years ago when he spun and get stuck facing the wall... Chip clicks the radio and said: "Reverse, reverse... all the way up, all the way up"...silence for a couple of seconds and Montoya clicks the radio.. "Chip, I know where the fu(&^$Z^^$$) reverse is".... I cant remember exactly Chip's words regarding the gear position but I think they were like I posted...

Best one so far to me was Montoya on his first stint in Formula Indy years ago when he spun and get stuck facing the wall... Chip clicks the radio and said: "Reverse, reverse... all the way up, all the way up"...silence for a couple of seconds and Montoya clicks the radio.. "Chip, I know where the fu(&^$Z^^$$) reverse is".... I cant remember exactly Chip's words regarding the gear position but I think they were like I posted...

Given how often Indycar drivers can't seem to figure out reverse when it goes down the escape road, it makes sense to remind them how to do something they never do. It's like when they tell them on EVERY pitstop, to reset the fuel meter.

Having won the race in Argentina after predicting the win would go to Schumacher Irvine said in a post-race interview: "I tell you what, my bookie is not going to be too pleased. I put money on Michael to win and I put money on myself each-way as well. He'll be crying a bit today."